Buffer assembly



, Dec. 12, 1944. D. D. BRYANT BUFFER ASSEMBLY Filed March 21, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l AQMQ;

Dec. 12, 1944. BRYANT 2,364,945

BUFFER AS SEMBLY Filed March 21, 1944 3 Sheets$heet 2 Dec. 12, 1944. BRYANT- 4 2,364,945

BUFFER ASSEMBLY Filed March 21, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WI HHHH 1Q ..mllllllllillllllll n 1 *1! if I! I Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUFFER ASSEMBLY Donald Dewey Bryant, Huntington, W. Va.

Application March 21, 1944, Serial No. 527,495

17 Claims.

This invention is a novel improvement in locomotive and tender buffer assemblies.

Locomotive engines and tenders are separated by buffer castings on the locomotive and tender respectively, and between these buffer castings is fitted a floating laterally shiftable casting serving as a pivot or contact point between the locomotive and tender buffer castings, allowing the tender to follow the locomotive when rounding curves or passing onto crossovers from track to track. The constant friction set up between the contacting surfaces of 'the buffer castings and floating casting has a galling or roughening effect on the surface of the metals which constantly becomes worse, sometimes to the extent of causing the locomotive or tender to derail, since the galling, roughening or cutting-in of the metal causes the floating casting to bind or grip and thus not follow the correct radius of contour of the contacting surfaces of the bufier and floating castings.

These castings, especially engine buffer castings, have heretofore been constructed of one solid block, which construction necessitates removal of the block so that the correct radius could be reground accurately. This galling, roughening, or cutting-in, causing binding or gripping of the radial buffer action between locomotive and tenderis one of the most frequent which will saveneedless expenditures for parts and labor.

Heretofore it has been necessary to in-shop the locomotive, disconnect the locomotive and tender, burn the weld or bolts from around the locomotive buffer casting, remove the casting, then regrind its surface on a radial grinder, replace and re-weld or bolt same, which work usually requires three to four eight-hour shifts, totaling twentyfour to thirty-two man-hours.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a stationary locomotive buffer (or tender buffer) casting having a cavity carrying a rigid arcuate insert block, a laterally shiftable arcuate insert block slidably engaging the first insert block within the cavity and engaging the floating casting laterally movable within the drawbar, said floating'casting also engaging the tender buffer casting and having its opposite faces conforming with the opposite curvature of the locomotive and tender castings respectively, said parts when assembled working in conjunction with one another to maintain a direct line of contact between the center line of the main pair of locomotive driving Wheels, and the face of laterally shiftable insert, and continuing from thence rearwardly through the stress line of the floating casting, to the point of contact of the latter with the tender buffer casting, and fromthence to center line of front pair of tender truck wheels. Thus, according to my invention, in event of undue wear, when'the stationary locomotive casting provided with such inserts is once installed, it will merely be necessary to remove a few bolts, then remove the two inserts and replace same with new inserts, or place a liner behind the rigid insert, which replacement would require only several hours and could be made at any place along the railroad.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bufier which will permit free-moving action between the bufler and floating castings and which will prevent the floating casting from sticking, galling, binding or jamming between the locomotive and tender castings, or otherwise impede a perfect bufler radial action between the locomotive buffer casting and floating casting, or between the floating casting and the tender buffer casting, when the engine is crossing over from track to track, rounding curves, 0r undergoing any movement where buffer radial actionis required. The second insert which is movable from side to side within the buffer cavity projects slightly rearwardly from the engine buffer cavity, and the curved face of this second insert contacts the correspondingly curved face of the floating casting, whereby if the floating casting does not follow the radial action of either engine or tender, this second insert will shift laterally, causing a freeing action which will release the cramped or unequalized position of the floating casting, causing it to follow its designed radial movement.

Forced lubrication is provided between the first insert and the movable second insert, same lubrieating both the top and bottomfaces of the second insert; thus the action of this arcuate second insert which contacts arcuate engine side of the floating casting, prevents sticking and halting because of its freeing side movement which floats with the movement of the floating casting actuated by a draw-bar rod carried by the drawbar connecting the locomotive and tender, which rod floats up and down with the movement of the engine and thus centralizes -the floating casting with the center of the draw-bar, and pulls the Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the buffer assembly.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal line 3--3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the locomotive buffer casting, detached.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the casting, shown in- Fig. 5. v

Fig. '7 isa top plan View of the slidable insert.

Fig. 8 is an. elevation of the insert shown in Fi '7;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the fixed insert.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the insert shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of one of the floating casting guide rods, detached.

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the guide rod, shown in Fig. 11.

As shown in Fig. l, the locomotive L and tender T are connected together by a draw-bar D, and above the draw-bar is located the buffer assembly; between the locomotive and tender. The buffer assembly comprises a locomotive buffer, casting; I (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) fixedly secured to the rear end of the locomotive chassis above draw-bar D, and on the axis of the engine. Casting l is provided with a-substantially rectangular recess la in its rear face extending substantially to the front face of the casting and to the sides thereof, the side walls lb of recess Ia preferably sloping outwardly and rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 5. Rear face [0 of casting l is convexly arcuate, as shown, on a substantial radius (about sixty inches) Within recess la, contacting the rear wall thereof, is an insert 2 (Figs.'2, 9 and 10) of same height as the recess. The rear face 2a of insert 2 is convexly arcuate, its radius being preferably concentric with that of rear face lo of casting I. Block z-is provided with a central vertical hole for a bolt 4 passing through hole 20 and section on the through registering holes in the top and bottom walls of the recess in tov maintain the block 2 in fixed position within the recess.

Slidably engaging the arcuate rear face 2a of insert 2 is a second insert 5 (Figs, 2, 'I and 8), said insert being of. less width than the recess la, as shown in Fig, 2, so as to be capable of a substantial lateral movement therein; Block 5 has a concave arcuate front face So conforming in curvature'with the convexly arcuate rear face 2a of insert 2, andhas its convexly arcuate rear face- 511 curved concentrically with rear face lc of casting I, so as to. be parallel therewith. Block 5 however is of such thickness that its rear arcuate face 5b projects slightly rearwardly of the reararcuate face. leofLcasting l, as shown in Figs. 2' and 3, for the purpose hereinafter described. Insert 5 is provided with elongated slots 5d adjacent its ends for the reception of bolts 6 which pass through said slots and through registering holes in the upper and lower walls of the recess la of casting l, as shown. By the above construction, the insert 5 is permitted lateral motion within recess la with respect to the fixed insert 2, the arcuate front face 5a of block 5 sliding on the rear arcuate face 2a of insert 2, but throughout such movement the rear face 5b of insert 5 will always remain parallel with rear face lc of casting l.

Tender T also carries a buffer casting l rigidly secured thereto on the axis of the tender. The front face la of casting I is convexly arcuate and curved substantially on the same radius as that of rear face Ic of engine casting l but curving in the opposite direct-ion, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Between the front face In of tender buffer casting 1 and the rear face 5b of movable insert 5 carried by the locomotive buffercasti ng I, is a floating casting 0 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) having a lip 8a at its upper end overlying the top of locomotive casting l to maintain in normal operating relation, and having a lower lip 8m underlying the bottom of locomotive casting I. The front face 8b of member 8 is concavely arcuate and conforms with the convex curvature of the rear face 5b of movableinsert 5, while the rear face of floating casting 8 is'con'cavely arcuate and conforms with'the convex curvature of the front face la of tender buffer casting 1. Preferably the contacting face 5b of insert 5 and face 8b of floating casting 8 are slightly cup-shaped'or arcuate in avertical direction, as shown in Fig. 3, to assist in maintaining the lips 8a and 81 out of normal contact with the top and bottom of locomotive casting I to thereby reduce friction between said lips, which would tend to cause binding of the floating" casting during its shifting movement.

In order to shift floating casting 8' laterally between the members I and I when the locomotive L is passing onto sidings or rounding curves, during which time the locomotive buffer casting I will be shifted laterally with respect to the tender buffer casting T, I provide guide rods 8 (Figs. 4, 11 and 12') which have heads 92: disposed opposite the sides of floating casting 8 and which rods 9 have their lowerends inturned as at 9a and carry U-shaped brackets 9b adapted to straddle opposite sides of draw-bar D, the brackets 9b having mating flanges bolted together as at (Fig. 4) so that when the locomotive Lis passing onto the siding or around a curve, the draw-bar D, which will be correspondingly laterally shifted owing to the change in angularity between the locomotive: and tender, will throughrods 9 automatically shift the floating casting 8 laterally in the same direction and the same amount between the buffer castings land-.1, whereby the parts will work in conjunction one with another to maintaina direct following-course between the center line ofthe main pair of engine drive wheels and the face 5b of themovable insert 5; the line continuing from thence rearwardly'through the stress point of the floating casting B te-the corresponding point'on the tender" buffer casting I and-:rearwardly to'th-e center line of the front truck of the-tendon When the locomotiveand tender rounds curves, the floatingycasting guide rods El -thus follow the movement of draw-bar D, one of the rods k-wil'l contact the-side (right or left) of the floating casting 8-, moving; it to one side with the movement of draw-bar. The guide rods. 9 only move floating casting 8 when the locomotive and tender buffer castings both move sideways at the same time and in the same direction. This above-described bendin or side lateral movement of both locomotive and tender buffer ends, at the sam time and in the same direction, would tend to pinch or cramp the floating casting 8 unless the floating draw-bar guide rolls 9 are used;.and thus with the use of floating draw-bar guide rods 9 and the buffer casting recess carrying the radius insert 5, it is impossible for the radial buffer action to fail.

lhe action of the movable insert 5 which con tacts the locomotive side of the floating casting B prevents sticking and bindin of casting 8 because of its freeing side movement, said insert "5 floating with the action of the floating casting 8 shifted by the floating draw-bar rods 9 which extend from the draw-bar D and are adapted to engage the sides of floating casting 8. Ihe rods 9however are free to float up and down with the movement of the engine, but serve to centralize the floating casting 8 laterally with the center of the draw-bar D bypulling same from casting I and floating casting 8, or between float-' ing casting 8 and tender casting I, when the engine is crossing from track to track, rounding curves, or undergoing any movement where radial buffer action is required. If the floating buffer casting 8 does not follow the radial action of either locomotive or tender, insert 5 will shift from one side to the other setting up a freeing action which will release the cramped or unequalized position of the floating casting 8, causing'it to follow its designated radius.

The application of the engine casting l to the engine L may therefore be a permanent installation, and said casting need never be removed. Its rear face I is not subject to wear or other mechanical defects. The two inserts 2 and 5 placed within the cavity Ia of casting i receive all the wear, pressure or stress. When tender T and locomotive L are separated, after removal providing lubrication for both the top and bottom sides of movable insert 5. Other lubricating ducts 8p and 81' are provided in floating casting 8 for supplying forced lubrication between contacting faces 5b, 8b and faces la, 80.

Obviously, the tender casting I may be provided with the recss la, instead of locomotive casting l, and with the inserts 2 and 5 arranged similarly to effect the same purpose, if desired; and thus I do not limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A- buffer casting having a convexl arcuate outer end provided with a recess therein, the inner end of the reces being convexly arcuate in shape and coaxial with the outer end of the casting; and a shiftabl insert in the recess of less width than that of the recess and having a concavely arcuate inner end slidably engaging the convex inner end of the recess, and having a convexly arcuate outer end conforming with that of theouter end of the casting and projecting outwardly thereof.

2. In a casting as set forth in claim 1, said insert having elongated lots therein; and bolts transfixing said slots and casting.

3. A buffer casting having a convexly arcuate outer end provided with a recess therein; a removable stationary insert in said recess having a convexly arcuate outer face coaxial with the outer end of the casting; and a removable shiftable insert in the recess of less width than that of the recess and having a concavely arcuate inner end slidably engaging the convex outer end of the stationary insert, and having a convexly arcuate outer end conforming with that of the outer endin the casting and projecting outwardly thereof.

4. In a casting as set forth in claim 3, said insert' having elongated slots therein; and bolts transfixing said slots and casting.

5. In a locomotive and tender, a buffer assembly comprising a locomotive buffer casting fixedly mounted on the axis of the locomotive and having a convex arcuate rear face; a tender buffer 1 casting fixedly mounted on the tender opposite to but separated from the locomotive casting and having a convex arcuate front face; one of said castings having a recess in its outer end; a floating casing between said locomotive and tender casting having concave arcuate front and rear faces conformingwith the convex faces of the said locomotive and tender castings; and antifriction means in said recess engagin said floating casting for preventing gafling and sticking of the floating casting during shifting movements when the locomotive and tender are out of axial alignment.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 5, said recess having a convexly arcuate inner end coaxial with the outer face of its casting; and said antifriction means comprising a removable shiftable insert in the recess of less width than that of the recess and having a concavely arcuate inner end slidably engaging the convex inner end of the recess, and having a convexly arcuate outer end conforming with that of the outer end of the related tender casting but projecting outwardly thereof.

'7. In a combination as set forth in claim 5, said antifriction means comprising a removable stationary insert in the base of said recess having a convexly arcuate outer face; a removable shiftable insert in the recess of less width than that of the recess and having a concavely arcuate inner face slidably engaging the convex outer face of the stationary insert, and having a convexly arcuate outer face conforming with that of the outer end of the recessed tender casting but pro-' jecting outwardly thereof.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 5, said floating casting having restraining lips overlying and underlying the recessed casting; and the contacting faces of the floating casting and shiftable insert being concave in a vertical direction.

9. In combination with a locomotive and tender connected by a draw-bar; a buffer assembly disposed above the draw-bar and comprising a 1000* motivebufler casting fixedly mounted on the axis of the locomotive and having a convex arcuate rear face; a tender buffer casting fixedly mounted on the tender opposite to but separated from the locomotive casting and having a convex arcuate front face; one of said castings having a recess in its outer end; a floating casing between said locomotive and tender castings hav ing concave arcuat front and rear faces corrforming with the convex faces of the said locomotive and tender castings; guides carried by the draw-bar and adapted to engage the floating antifriction means comprising a removable-shift able. insert in the recess of less width than that of the recess and having a concavely arcuate inner end slidably engaging the convex inner end of the recess, and having a. convexlyarcuate outer end conforming with that of the outer end of the related tender casting but projecting outwardl thereof.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim. 9, saidantifriction means comprising a removable stationary insert in the base of said recess having a convexly arcuate outer face; a removable shiftable insert in the recess of lesswidth than that of the recess and having a concavely arcuate in.- ner face slidably engaging the convex outer face of the stationary insert, anclhaving a aconvexly arcuate outer face conforming with that of the outer end of the recessed tender casting but projecting outwardly thereof.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 9, said floating casting having restraining lips overlying and underlying the. recessed casting; and said guides comprising opposed U-shaped brackets embracing opposite sides of the draw-bar below the floating casing, means for clamping the brackets together, and rods extending. from said brackets and having portions disposed adjacent the respective sides of the floating casting, whereby the floating casting will be independent of any vertical movement ofv the draw-b'ar'but will follow any lateral movement thereof.

13. In combination with a locomotive and tender connected by a draw-bar; a buffer assemblydisposed above the draw-bar and comprising a locomotive buffer casting fixedly mounted on the axis of the locomotive and having a convex arcuate rear face provided with a recess therein; a tender buffer casting fixedly mounted on the tender opposite to but separated from the locomotive casting and having a convex arcuate front face; a floating casing between said locomotive and tender castings having concave arcuate front and rear faces conforming with the convex faces of thev said locomotive and tender castings; guides carried by the draw-bar and adapted to engage the floating, casting and shift same laterally therewith when the locomotive and tender are out of alignment; and antifriction means in said recess engaging said floating casting for preventing gain: and sticking of the floating casting during shifting movements.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 13, said recess having a convexly arcuate inner end coaxial with the rear face of the locomotive buffer casting, and said antifriction means comprising a removable shiftable insert in the recess of less width than that of the recess and having a concave ancuate front face slidably engaging the convex inner end of the recess, and having a convex arcuate rear face conforming with that of the rear facev in the engine castin but projecting rearwardly thereof. 4

15. In a combination as set forth in claim 13, said anti'friction means comprising a removable stationary insert in the base of said recess having a convex arcuate rear face; a removable shift able insert. in the recess of less width than that of the recess and having a concave arcuate front face slidably engaging the convex rear face of the stationary insert, and having a convex arcuate rear face conforming with that of the rear face in the engine casting but projecting rearwardly 40 thereof.

16. In. a combination as set forth in claim 13, said floating casting having restraining lips overlying and underlying the recessed casting; and the contacting faces of the floating casting and shiftable insert being concave in a vertical direction.

17. In a combination as set forth in claim 13, said floating'casting having restraining lips overlying and underlyin the locomotive casting; and said guides comprising opposed U-shaped brackets embracing opposite sides of the draw-bar below the floating casing, means for clamping the brackets together, and rods extending from said brackets. and having portions disposed adjacent the respective sides of the floating casting, whereby the floating casting will be independent of any vertical movement of the draw-bar but will follow any lateral movement thereof.

DONALD DEWEY BRYANT. 

